Stress can cause a number of different reactions, including weight gain or loss, depending on the circumstances. Weight loss due to stress is most often primarily due to decreased eating, and is therefore largely within our conscious control.
Increased eating due to stress can cause weight gain, but in many cases stress-related weight gain is a result of rising stress hormone levels and is not something one can take conscious control of.
Chronically high stress levels lead to the production of cortisol. High cortisol levels stimulate fat storage in the lower abdominal area.
In many cases, the deposition of fat around the midsection will motivate people to severely restrict their diets and/or to begin working out harder than usual. This is often counterproductive when the underlying problem is high cortisol due to stress.
High intenstiy exercise and/or a very restricted calorie intake can produce additional physical stress on the body that may trigger even more cortisol production. The higher the cortisol level goes, the greater the tendency to gain fat in the middle of the body.
Because of this, if you are experiencing a lot of stress in your life and you are gaining weight in the belly, it is best to take a moderate approach to your exercise program and diet. For exercise, it is best to stick to moderate amounts of relatively low-intensity activities such as walking, bicycling, or swimming. It is a good idea to avoid intense or muscularly-demanding activities such as weight lifting, high-intensity aerobics, intense interval training, or anaerobic sports like basketball or soccer to avoid over-stressing the body. In addition, be sure to eat a reasonable amount of protein and do not overly restrict calorie intake.
While it might be tempting to restrict calorie intake as a means of burning off the belly fat, severe calorie restriction leads to more cortisol production, so it is a better choice to eat a healthy diet with some protein in order to minimize cortisol levels. This will allow your body to gradually burn off the abdominal fat.
By combining healthy eating with meals containing protein, and nutrient-rich foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds with a moderate amount of low-intensity aerobic exercise, you can control your stress better. This will lead to lower levels of cortisol in your system, and a gradual burning off of stored belly fat.
Increased eating due to stress can cause weight gain, but in many cases stress-related weight gain is a result of rising stress hormone levels and is not something one can take conscious control of.
Chronically high stress levels lead to the production of cortisol. High cortisol levels stimulate fat storage in the lower abdominal area.
In many cases, the deposition of fat around the midsection will motivate people to severely restrict their diets and/or to begin working out harder than usual. This is often counterproductive when the underlying problem is high cortisol due to stress.
High intenstiy exercise and/or a very restricted calorie intake can produce additional physical stress on the body that may trigger even more cortisol production. The higher the cortisol level goes, the greater the tendency to gain fat in the middle of the body.
Because of this, if you are experiencing a lot of stress in your life and you are gaining weight in the belly, it is best to take a moderate approach to your exercise program and diet. For exercise, it is best to stick to moderate amounts of relatively low-intensity activities such as walking, bicycling, or swimming. It is a good idea to avoid intense or muscularly-demanding activities such as weight lifting, high-intensity aerobics, intense interval training, or anaerobic sports like basketball or soccer to avoid over-stressing the body. In addition, be sure to eat a reasonable amount of protein and do not overly restrict calorie intake.
While it might be tempting to restrict calorie intake as a means of burning off the belly fat, severe calorie restriction leads to more cortisol production, so it is a better choice to eat a healthy diet with some protein in order to minimize cortisol levels. This will allow your body to gradually burn off the abdominal fat.
By combining healthy eating with meals containing protein, and nutrient-rich foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds with a moderate amount of low-intensity aerobic exercise, you can control your stress better. This will lead to lower levels of cortisol in your system, and a gradual burning off of stored belly fat.
About the Author:
Dr. George Best has been assisting people with weight loss since 1992. For additional weight loss information and access to a revolutionary program to help you follow-through with your diet and exercise plans, please visit Dr. Best's site on natural weight loss.
